Chapter 105:

As the second round of the selection process approached, Elyse practiced diligently before leaving the studio, staying an hour later than usual. Gathering her belongings, she waited patiently for her driver at the roadside. A sleek Bentley suddenly stopped before her.

Furrowing her brow, Elyse cautiously stepped back. As the Bentley's window glided down, Theo's frosty countenance appeared, chilling the air. In a frigid tone, she asked, "What brings you here?"

"Get in the car," Theo replied curtly.

Elyse curled her lip. "Who do you think you are, and why should I get in your car?"

Theo saw her aversion in her gaze. For the first time, he sensed her inherent resistance. He stepped out of the car and faced her. His imposing presence seemed to overpower Elyse.

Noticing her apprehension, he sighed inwardly and asked icily, "Have you slept with someone else?"

Elyse was startled. How did he know? She had been married to Jayden for a long time; intimacy wasn't unusual, was it? With resentment, she replied, "My private life is private. I'm married. Respect my boundaries. Leave me alone. Stop these intrusive questions."

Elyse turned to leave, bewildered by Theo's sudden interest. He had walked away from their wedding, yet now he interrogated her as if she had betrayed him. Their connection had long since ended, hadn't it?

Frowning intensely, Elyse wished to avoid him. "Answer me. Have you slept with someone else?" Theo demanded, his patience wearing thin.

Exasperated, Elyse retorted, "Yes, I have. But it's none of your concern."

"None of his concern," Theo grappled with his own anger, bewildered by his strong reaction. He grabbed Elyse's arm, pulling her toward the car. "Come with me."

Startled, Elyse resisted, using her bag as a weapon. "Are you out of your mind? Why should I go with you? My husband's car is coming. Let go of me!"

At the mention of her husband, Theo's fury intensified, his grip tightening. Seeing his menacing glare, Elyse winced in pain.

"Let go!" In a moment of panic, she swiftly kicked him in the groin. His face drained of color as he instinctively covered himself.

"Theo…" His accusatory gaze burned into her.

Regaining her composure, Elyse stood firm. "You hurt me first. I was defending myself. Who gave you the right to forcibly take me away?"

Her driver arrived. Seeing the car, Elyse immediately ran to it. Before entering, she glanced back at Theo. He remained motionless, his stare piercing and cold.

With a shaky breath, Elyse hurried into the car, urging the driver, "Quickly, let's go home."

"Sure," the driver replied, driving away. Only when safely distanced from Theo did Elyse exhale.

She couldn't understand Theo's intrusion into her personal life, or how he knew about her intimacy with Jayden. These questions plagued her on the drive home.

Arriving home, she found Jayden in his wheelchair, watching her. Her heart leaped, wondering if he knew about Theo and was upset.

To her surprise, Jayden cleared his throat. "Why wait? Let's have dinner."

Elyse nodded and joined him. A lingering unease hung in the air. She felt something was wrong with Jayden.

"What happened today? You seem different," Elyse finally asked, genuine concern in her voice.

Jayden looked up, confused. "Different? I'm perfectly fine."

Elyse felt even more unsettled but didn't press further. The day's practice had exhausted her. She longed for rest.

To her surprise, Jayden followed her. Pausing at her door, Elyse asked, "Why have you followed me?"

Jayden's response, simple yet intimate, surprised Elyse. "Of course, I want to rest with you."

...